Original Message

You should get an award, trophy, medal, or at least some kind of coin for your accomplishment... right?

It is certainly possible to pass a test at minimums, but you really only need to be a C+ pilot to pass that test with most DPE because they realize you're a very long way from anyone paying you to take a rotorcraft into IMC on purpose. 

Maybe the DPE who signed you off was one of the loose ones? 

Maybe some guys don't want to take that test until they feel highly confident in their ability, and are willing to absorb the extra cost?

Maybe they went to a rip-off flight school and had a crap instructor? 

Maybe the guy who takes 65 hours of hood time to get his CFII is a slow learner, or maybe he's a future Ace who prefers to take serious things seriously and is far more interested in developing skill than just punching a ticket to fast track their career... many things are possible. 

I had around 45-48 sim. Inst. hours (some of which was FTD) when I passed my IFR ride in 2005, but I flew commercially in various roles for nearly a decade after before the opportunity to routinely fly IMC on purpose was presented. Whether someone passed an IFR ride at 40 hours or 70 hours doesn't necessarily tell you much about their potential, especially in the United States.